Chapter 22

~Eliana~

For whatever reason, Carrie had not been answering my calls all day. I had called her twice in the morning, and this was the third time I was dialling her number this afternoon, before I headed out to see Jennifer, who had requested to meet me at a coffee shop, not far away from where I lived.

“Pick up, would you?” I yelled, as if she could hear me, as the call ended again, without her answering the phone.

I fastened the buckles of my brown sandals, and grabbed a small white bag, which I stuffed with some dollars, a pen, and a small notebook, for the purpose of having something to write with, should I come across anything that gave me inspiration. I had on a brown t-shirt, and dark blue denim pants, and my hair was tied up in a ponytail.

It was already five minutes past three, and Jenny had stated that she’d be there at exactly 3 o’clock. Well, no one ever went anywhere when they said they would, right? People hardly ever kept to time, especially girls, so, I decided not to let myself be bothered.

My phone’s ringtone pierced loudly through the entire room, making me wonder if I had mistakenly increased the volume while I was asleep. If Alistair was here, he’d probably lose his mind, as high-pitched sounds unsettled werewolves, especially since they already had an acute hearing ability.

“Finally,” I said, as I saw that it was Carrie, who was returning my call.

I answered it, and without bothering to exchange pleasantries, went straight to tell her exactly what was on my mind. “Hey, I’ve been trying to reach you since morning. Why didn’t you answer your calls?” I asked.

“Hi, hope you’re fine, would have sufficed,” She retorted.

“Hi. Hope you’re fine,” I said, repeating what she had said, in a calmer tone.

“Yes, I am, thanks for asking. I left my phone at home, forgetting to take it along with me to the clinic, and that’s why I was unable to respond to your calls. I just got back home. I hope all is well,” She said.

“Yes, everything’s good, except that I don’t get why we’re speaking so politely to each other,” I said.

Immediately after I said that, we both burst into a fit of laughter. “You’re a clown,” Carrie said in-between laughs.

“I know, right?” I said, laughing hard, and abruptly stopped, on realising that five more minutes had passed. “Uh-oh,” I said.

“What’s wrong?” She asked, also not laughing anymore.

“Umm... I have to meet someone at the coffee shop, and I’m already ten minutes late, and I haven’t even left the house,” I explained.

“Oh. Who are you meeting?” She asked.

“Jennifer,” I replied.

“Jennifer...as in, Garrett’s sister?” She inquired, trying to be sure.

“Yes, Jennifer...as in, Garrett’s sister,” I confirmed.

“Why? What do you want to see her for?” Carrie asked.

“I don’t know, Carrie. She’s the one that asked to see me, and that’s the reason I called you,” I said.

“Oh. That’s the reason you called me? Why? I don’t get it,” She said.

“We both know that Jennifer doesn’t like me at all, and I just wanted you to be aware of my whereabouts, in case something happens,” I said.

“You don’t trust her?” Carrie asked.

“Yeah. I don’t trust her at all. I know that she may be Garrett’s sister, and that you and Garrett have a thing, but I just don’t trust her. She has never liked me, and I don’t know why,” I explained.

“It’s cool, okay? I don’t trust her either. I have a bad feeling about her, and you know my instincts are almost never wrong,” Carrie said.

“At least, you’re on the same page as me,” I said.

“Of course, I am. I don’t think she’d try to kidnap you though, or cause you physical harm. She probably just wants to warn you or scare you into leaving Alistair,” Carrie said.

“Wait. Do you also think that she and Alistair may have had a thing in the past?” I asked.

“Not really. I feel that she saw him as more than just a friend, while he saw her as just a friend, and now, she’s pained. The way she was staring at you guys that day at the beach was so scary, but I really don’t think she’d hurt you,” Carrie said.

“Yeah,” I agreed. “Perhaps she may even be trying to make peace,” I said.

“Exactly, but don’t let your guard down. People don’t just change from being mean to being suddenly nice, except they want something from you. Be careful, okay?”

“Yes, Carrie, I’d be careful,” I told her.

“Okay then. Hurry up now, you don’t want her to believe you’re not going to show up, and leave there in anger, with even more hatred for you, or do you?”

“Of course, I don’t. I’ll talk to you later, okay? Thanks for your help,” I said.

“You’re welcome, Eliana. Take care,” She said, and then, her line went dead.

“Here goes nothing,” I whispered to myself, grabbing the small white bag from the table, and hanging it on my shoulders, before leaving my bedroom.

I walked into the coffee shop about seven minutes later, and saw Jennifer sitting at a table close to the window, reading a book, with a cup of iced coffee, resting on the table.

She didn’t even seem like she was waiting for someone, but like she had come to the coffee shop to clear her head, read a book and just drink coffee, while doing that.

I approached her table gently, and before I got there, she looked up from her book and smiled at me. She must have heard me coming with her supernatural werewolf powers, and for the first time, I noticed that she was genuinely smiling at me.

“Hi. Glad you could make it,” She said, gesturing for me to take the seat opposite hers.

“Hey, I’m sorry for being late,” I apologised, taking my seat.

“It’s fine, as long as you still got here, although I was beginning to think that you had cancelled on me,” She said.

“I’m sorry about that,” I said, apologising again.

“Like I already said, it’s fine. Would you like to have something to drink?” She inquired.

“No, I’m good. I just want to know why you asked to see me,” I responded.

“Oh, right. I’m getting to that,” She said, taking a sip of her iced coffee.

“I was so surprised when I received your call. I mean, I don’t even have your phone number, so, I was shocked when I heard your voice over the phone,” I told her, trying to continue the conversation.

“Yes, I also didn’t have your number. I got it from Garrett’s phone,” She said.

“Oh, I see.”

“Actually, I called you here, because I want to help you out with something,” She said.

I stared at her, befuddled. “Help me with what? Sorry, but I don’t remember asking for your help in regards to anything,” I said to her.

“I know. I’ll go straight to the point. You believe that your friend is still alive, don’t you?” She asked.

I shrugged. “I don’t really know what to believe. The police combed everywhere they possibly could, and they were unable to find his body. I think it’s possible that he is still alive, but if he is, why hasn’t he showed up all these years?” I asked.

“That’s a good point, and I’m going to tell you what I feel about this whole situation. I think that your friend could be alive, and maybe he hasn’t showed up all these years is because he just can’t,” She said.

“What do you mean?” I inquired.

“This is my theory, Eliana. Your friend could still be alive, but remember what the Beast of Vengeance said before he died?” She asked.

“He said a lot of things. Which one exactly?” I fired back at her.

“He said he bit your friend,” Jennifer said.

My eyes twitched, as I remembered what he had said a few seconds before he died. “That’s true. If he bit him, then it’s possible that he didn’t die, but probably turned into a werewolf, right? He couldn’t have turned into a beast, because that power had only been granted to the Beast of Vengeance...”

“And before the Beast of Vengeance became a beast, he was first a werewolf, which means that when he bit your friend, he could have transformed him into a werewolf...” Jennifer added, interrupting my statement.

“Because if a werewolf's bite doesn’t kill you, it will transform you,” I said, in conclusion, cutting in on Jennifer.

“Exactly! You really do know about werewolves,” Jennifer said.

I gave a small smile. “I’m a Venator,” I responded, in a Latin accent.

“It’s apparent,” She said.

“Yes. So, Sam could be a werewolf, right? The question still remains the same even if he’s a werewolf. Why hasn’t he showed up? What could be the matter?” I asked.

“I have two plausible causes for his absence for ten years. One, it is possible that a pack of werewolves found him, and he is now a member of their pack, and he’s probably too ashamed of who he is now. That’s why he hasn’t even come to see his Parents,” Jennifer said.

“If that’s the case, then, he’s nuts. Why should anyone be ashamed of being a werewolf? I mean, you have increased hearing, super speed, the ability to heal, the ability to sense things, and all if that. Why should he be ashamed? Also, if he has pack members, he should be able to know how to control when he shifts by now, so, he could have still shown up. I don’t think that theory is correct,” I said.

Jennifer smiled, nodding her head, in agreement. “That’s exactly why I thought of a second plausible reason. Sam could have transformed into a full wolf, because of his inability to control when he shifts, and is finding it hard to transform back into a human being,” She said.

I thought about her second theory carefully. “Do you think that’s possible?” I asked.

“Yes, I do. It happens; it’s just that it’s rare,” She explained.

“So, how are we going to find him if he’s truly a wolf, and how are we going to change him back to a human being if we do find him?” I asked.

“We could catch his scent using any of his belongings,” She replied.

“How can you catch his scent with something of his, after ten years?” I asked, wondering out loud.

“Don’t underestimate a werewolf’s powers,” Jennifer said, in response.

“I’m not. It’s just that even if I do give you something of his, he probably won’t smell the same way anymore. If he’s a wolf, he’d reek of dirt,” I said.

“That’s where you’re wrong, Eliana. Every person has a scent that’s peculiar to them alone. Minus perfumes and all of that, we all have a natural scent, and we don’t ever lose it,” She explained.

“That means Sam may have not lost his either, even as a wolf,” I said, understanding where she was coming from.

“Exactly. Our senses are intensified during the full moon, which is just two days away. We could try to find him on the day of the full moon,” Jennifer said.

“I know, but what if something happens, and you’re unable to control yourself?” I asked.

“Don’t worry, I won’t be there alone. Alistair and Garrett will come along with us,” Jennifer said.

“Did they already agree to?” I asked.

“No, I haven’t told them about this yet. I wanted to know your opinion on it first, before involving my brother and Alistair,” She said.

I drummed my fingers on the table, in a calculative manner. “Why do you want to help me out with this? What would you gain from doing this?” I asked, doubting her intentions.

“I knew you were going to ask me that. Trust me, Eliana, I don’t hope to gain anything from doing this, and my intentions are pure. I know what it means to lose someone, without being able to do anything. One time, our pack had had a clash with a Pride of werecats, and my parents had died while fighting. Some years later, my brother was banished, and he went to live with the Druids. The only person that had been there for me is Alistair, and I don’t know what would have happened if I hadn’t had him.

“In your case, however, you lost everyone in one day, and from what I’ve seen, you don’t even ha e a family. I know how it must be tough for you to live without any close friend...someone who’s got your back, with the memories of their deaths still fresh in your head. That’s why I want to help you get even if it’s just one person back,” Jennifer explained.

My eyes were watery, and I blinked back tears. “So, you have no ulterior motive?” I asked.

“My intentions are pure. I know I’ve been mean to you, but that’s because I felt you were taking away the closest person to me, and I didn’t want to lose him, too. However, I realised that you don’t even have anyone, and it’s not wrong if we are both Alistair’s friends. I was acting like a child, who was being selfish about her toys, forgetting that Alistair isn’t a toy, and that everyone can have him,” She said, chuckling mildly.

“You’re right about that. So, you and Alistair are just friends?” I asked.

“Yeah. How about you and Sam?” She asked.

I paused for a second, wondering if I should tell her anything that was personal to me.

“You can trust me,” She said, taking a sip of her iced coffee.

Carrie had asked me not to trust her, but this wasn’t even that big of a deal. I didn’t see any reason to hide something as trivial as this.

“Well, Sam was my first love. We were more than just friends,” I said.

She placed her hands on mine. “That’s not an issue, okay? People’s feelings change after all,” She said.

“Exactly. I love Alistair now,” I said.

“Of course, you do, and I’m happy for both of you. You guys suit each other perfectly well,” She said, with a friendly broad smile.

I returned the smile, gently removing her hands, which had been resting on mine.

For some reason, she scared me, even though she was acting all nice and friendly. There seemed to be something more than she was willing to let on, and I slowly began to regret telling her anything about Sam and I.

From the corner of my eyes, I saw a mischievous smirk play around her lips. Maybe I was mistaken about that, but I now felt certain that when she had said she was happy that Alistair and I were together, she hadn’t meant it.